Texas Tech University and downtown Lubbock at sunset

Where to Stay on the South Plains

Lubbock for the city, Amarillo or Canyon for the canyon — our shortlist, with live rates.

Most visitors need two bases: Lubbock for the museums, music and wine, and Amarillo or Canyon for a night near Palo Duro Canyon and Route 66. Both are easy: hotels are plentiful, parking is free or cheap, and standards are high.

The one thing to watch is timing. Lubbock’s hotels fill up — and rates can double — on Texas Tech home-football weekends and university graduation weekends in May and December. Check the calendar before you book, and book early if your dates clash. Every link below goes to Trip.com with live prices and availability.

Where to stay

Lubbock

Stay near Texas Tech or downtown for the museums and the Depot District; southwest Lubbock is quieter, newer and handy for the wineries.

Overton Hotel and Conference Center

★★★★ Lubbock

Lubbock’s landmark full-service hotel, right beside the Texas Tech campus and a short drive from downtown — with the Pecan Grill restaurant, a pool and plenty of space on game weekends.

Next to Texas Tech
On-site restaurant and bar
Outdoor pool and fitness centre

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Cotton Court Hotel

★★★★ Lubbock

A stylish boutique motor-court hotel with a courtyard, fire pits and a relaxed West Texas feel, close to Texas Tech and the Marsha Sharp Freeway.

Boutique design with Texas character
Courtyard pool and fire pits
Easy drive to campus and downtown

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Courtyard Lubbock Downtown/University Area

★★★ Lubbock

8.6 66

A reliable modern hotel in downtown Lubbock, close to Jones AT&T Stadium and a few minutes from the Depot District’s bars and music venues.

Walk or short ride to the stadium
Near the Depot District
Good guest scores

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DoubleTree by Hilton Lubbock – University Area

★★★ Lubbock

A comfortable full-service hotel in the university area, handy for Texas Tech events, the museums on 4th Street and the Medical District.

University-area location
Restaurant and bar on site
Close to the museums

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Hyatt Place Lubbock

★★★ Lubbock

A practical, good-value choice in southwest Lubbock with spacious rooms and breakfast, well placed for the city’s shopping and restaurant strip.

Spacious rooms
Breakfast often included
Near shops and restaurants

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Hilton Garden Inn Lubbock

★★★ Lubbock

9.1 103

A well-kept, highly rated hotel in southwest Lubbock with easy parking — a solid, quiet base if you are driving out to the wineries and the Caprock.

Very high guest scores
Easy parking
Quiet southwest location

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Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lubbock Central – Univ Area

★★★ Lubbock

9.1 100

A highly rated mid-range hotel on the Marsha Sharp Freeway between Texas Tech and downtown, with free breakfast and quick access to everything.

Between campus and downtown
Free breakfast
Very high guest scores

See rates & availability

All Lubbock hotels on Trip.com

Amarillo & Canyon (for Palo Duro Canyon)

Canyon is the closest town to the park entrance — about 20 minutes. Amarillo, 30–40 minutes away, has more choice, better restaurants and Route 66.

The Barfield, Autograph Collection

★★★★ Amarillo

Amarillo’s luxury boutique hotel in a restored 1920s downtown tower on Polk Street, with a speakeasy bar — the stylish base for Palo Duro Canyon and Route 66.

Historic downtown building
Speakeasy bar and restaurant
About 30 minutes to Palo Duro Canyon

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Courtyard Amarillo Downtown

★★★ Amarillo

A well-run hotel in downtown Amarillo’s restored historic Fisk Building, a short drive from Route 66 on Sixth Street.

Historic building downtown
Close to Route 66 Sixth Street
Good value for a downtown stay

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Embassy Suites Amarillo Downtown

★★★★ Amarillo

Spacious suites next to Amarillo’s Hodgetown ballpark and convention centre — practical for families, with breakfast and an evening reception on many rates.

Suites with separate living area
Breakfast on many rates
Downtown location

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The Big Texan Motel

★★ Amarillo

The Old West-themed motel beside the famous Big Texan Steak Ranch on I-40 — pure Route 66 kitsch, and the perfect place to sleep off the 72-ounce steak.

Next to the Big Texan Steak Ranch
Route 66 roadside fun
Easy I-40 access

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Best Western Palo Duro Canyon Inn & Suites

★★★ Canyon

A friendly, practical hotel in the college town of Canyon, about 20 minutes from the Palo Duro Canyon park entrance — ideal for an early start on the trails.

Closest town to the canyon
Free breakfast
Indoor pool

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Hampton Inn & Suites Canyon

★★★ Canyon

A newer hotel near West Texas A&M University in Canyon, roughly 15–20 minutes from Palo Duro Canyon and close to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.

Newer, well-kept rooms
Free hot breakfast
Near the Panhandle-Plains museum

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Buffalo Inn (vintage motel)

★★ Canyon

A simple, vintage-style motor inn in Canyon — a budget-friendly, characterful option for hikers who just need a bed near the canyon.

Budget friendly
Vintage motel character
Short drive to Palo Duro Canyon

See rates & availability

Amarillo hotels Canyon hotels

Which base is right for you?

Area	Good for	Less good for	Price level
Texas Tech / Overton	Museums, campus, game days, walkable dining	Quiet nights on game weekends	$$–$$$
Downtown & Depot District	Live music, bars, Buddy Holly Center	Evenings are quiet outside the district	$$
Southwest Lubbock	Families, wineries, easy parking, value	Walking to sights — you’ll drive	$–$$
Canyon	Early starts at Palo Duro Canyon	Nightlife and dining choice	$–$$
Amarillo	Route 66, Cadillac Ranch, restaurants	Distance to Lubbock sights (2 h)	$–$$$

Booking tips

Rates on ordinary weekdays are often very reasonable; weekend rates rise in autumn when there is a home game.
Many mid-range hotels include breakfast — worth it before a long day on the road.
Parking is almost always free outside the downtown cores.
Camping or a cabin inside Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a special experience; book through Texas State Parks months ahead.

We may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. We do not accept payment for inclusion, and we have no licence to use the hotels’ own photos, so cards are text-only.

Plan your trip

Big skies, deep canyons and real West Texas

Pair Lubbock and Palo Duro Canyon with the best-rated experiences on the road in: cowboy history in Fort Worth, Route 66 west to New Mexico, or the canyons of Big Bend. Book in a couple of taps.

Browse Texas tours Compare our picks

Good to know

Where to stay: FAQs

What is the best area to stay in Lubbock?

Near Texas Tech (around the Overton district) or downtown for sightseeing and nightlife; southwest Lubbock for quieter, newer hotels with easy parking.

Where should I stay for Palo Duro Canyon?

Canyon is the closest town, about 20 minutes from the park entrance. Amarillo is 30–40 minutes away with more hotels and restaurants. Inside the park there are campsites and a few cabins.

Are hotels expensive in Lubbock?

Usually not — Lubbock is good value. Prices spike on Texas Tech home-football and graduation weekends, when you should book early.